Advice on which guitar to buy....

[daugela]

OK - so I've played the piano my whole life and took up the guitar last year. I bought the Fender $99 intro set to see if I was able to play or not. Since that time, I play regularly and am ready to upgrade. I played everything from Christian Rock, oldies to DMB....

I can't decide between a Takamine ED531SC adn a EF341SC....Both sound great but the 341 sounds too bright for me...Anyone have any thoughts. When I was at Guitar Center trying both out, I'd play DMB and the more expensive 341 sounded too bright for DMB....Almost sounded like a 12 string. Great sound, but not as solid as the cheaper 531.

I just can't decide on the two. I'm affraid if I buy the 341 and learn more DMB, I will be disappointed that the guitar produces a full bright sound that wouldn't sound good for DMB songs. thanks.

[sfmartins]

Did you only try one 341? Maybe another will have a more balanced sound.

In any case, you should always buy the one that sounds better for you, even if it is slightly cheaper.
As an example, a lot of people prefer the D-35 to the HD-35.
So it's really a personal choice.

[Sort Of A Protest Song]

OK - so I've played the piano my whole life and took up the guitar last year. I bought the Fender $99 intro set to see if I was able to play or not. Since that time, I play regularly and am ready to upgrade. I played everything from Christian Rock, oldies to DMB....

I can't decide between a Takamine ED531SC adn a EF341SC....Both sound great but the 341 sounds too bright for me...Anyone have any thoughts. When I was at Guitar Center trying both out, I'd play DMB and the more expensive 341 sounded too bright for DMB....Almost sounded like a 12 string. Great sound, but not as solid as the cheaper 531.

I just can't decide on the two. I'm affraid if I buy the 341 and learn more DMB, I will be disappointed that the guitar produces a full bright sound that wouldn't sound good for DMB songs. thanks.

Do you know anyone who knows how to play the type of music (i.e. DM) on guitar you want to learn? If so, go to the store and get them to play the same stuff on both guitars while your back is turned and you can't tell which one is being played. Might give you a different perspective on which one to buy and what sound you prefer.

[HD18JBGuy]

General rule, by the best you can afford at this time. Cheaper acoustics tend to sound "bright" as compared to better models with solid woods. If you can get anything with a solid wood, I would start there. Epiphone, Takamine, Yamaha, and Seagull all make very reasonably priced, solid wood acoustics.

[jsgksu]

General rule, by the best you can afford at this time. Cheaper acoustics tend to sound "bright" as compared to better models with solid woods. If you can get anything with a solid wood, I would start there. Epiphone, Alvarez, Takamine, Yamaha, and Seagull all make very good, reasonably priced, solid wood acoustics.